School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Ibañez returns with the start of a spellbinding historical duology set during the 19th-century rise of Egyptomania, where lingering magic still infuses old--and ancient--objects. Just before Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera turns 19, she receives a package from her father containing a gold ring imbued with old magic and no note. Instead of birthday wishes and an invitation to join her parents in Egypt, the only letter Inez receives from overseas is an official notification that her parents have been declared dead. With no details forthcoming, she embarks alone to Cairo to find her uncle and investigate what her parents were working on in the desert. She is blocked at every turn by her uncle and his handsome, aggravating assistant Whitford Hayes, who seem determined to keep her away from their mysterious archeological expedition. In Egypt, Inez realizes the gold ring has left her with a magical resonance that may lead her to answers about her parents--or it could get her killed. Ibañez's lush and complex world is overflowing with historical details, including a subtle emphasis on the consequences of Egyptomania on native Egyptians. Inez and Whit's chemistry is undeniable, and their banter is delightful; they both remain dedicated to their own goals as the romance develops. Characters are diverse in race, religion, and ethnicity, bringing historical Argentina and Egypt to life. VERDICT With an adventurous treasure hunt, a perilous mystery, and a character-driven romance set in a unique historical moment, this is Ibañez's best work yet. Make space in all YA collections.--Emmy Neal
Publisher's Weekly Review
Ibañez (Together We Burn) presents a captivating historical novel full of magical intrigue and archaeological adventure, set in 1884. Argentinian and Bolivian 19-year-old Inez Olivera wants nothing more than to join her parents on one of their mysterious archaeology trips that take them to Egypt six months out of the year, leaving her in Buenos Aires with her aunt and cousin. But when news of her parents' disappearance and deaths arrives, Inez is left with an inherited fortune and a reticent uncle who refuses to provide information on her parents' vanishing. Thus, Inez boards a ship to Cairo seeking answers and is met at the port by Whitford Hayes, her uncle's handsome yet exasperating English assistant, who's been instructed to send her home. Not one to be deterred easily, Inez disguises herself as a crew hand and stows away on her uncle's boat that's heading toward the Nile--and, hopefully, toward the truth. A lively cast and a heaping helping of banter-filled romance radiate from this seamless blend of history, mystery, and mythology. Inez is a resourceful, headstrong heroine whom readers can't help but cheer on as she single-mindedly pursues her goals and uncovers secrets bigger than she ever imagined. Ages 13--up. Agent: Sarah Landis, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Oct.)
Kirkus Review
In 1884, a 19-year-old Argentine and Bolivian heiress sets sail to investigate the mysterious deaths of her parents in Egypt. Inez Olivera grew up in Buenos Aires largely without the presence of her mother and father, who often were in British-ruled Egypt, assisting Tío Ricardo, her archaeologist uncle, with his expeditions. When word comes that Inez's parents have disappeared in the desert and are presumed dead, she intends to find out exactly what happened to them--much to the chagrin of secretive, smoldering Whitford Hayes. Former British soldier Whit works for Tío Ricardo, who orders him to send the reluctant Inez back home for her own safety. But Inez repeatedly and craftily evades this demand. She realizes that a golden ring her father sent from Cairo before he disappeared has imprinted her with magic that may help unearth Cleopatra's tomb. Tío Ricardo, a historical preservationist who opposes colonial exploitation, is desperate to find it before greedy treasure hunters can rob Egypt of its artifacts. As the story unfolds through Inez's and Whit's alternating points of view, the chemistry between them sizzles, and they run into danger and deception at every turn of their epic quest--all while remaining unsure if they can even trust one another. Extensive worldbuilding in the first half pays off with a fast-paced conclusion laden with shocking twists. A jaw-dropping cliffhanger in the epilogue will leave readers deliciously questioning everything and hungering for the sequel. A romantic, heart-pounding adventure. (map, timeline, author's note) (Historical fantasy. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
In a novel that exquisitely depicts both its characters and the world around them, Ibañez (Together We Burn, 2022) introduces Inez Olivera, a girl of Bolivian and Argentine descent, who lives among the rich in nineteenth-century Buenos Aires. Adventurous by nature, Inez tries bravely to deal with her grief after she learns that her parents, avid travelers, have passed away while out of town. When she inherits their fortune, Inez sets off on a journey of her own, to Cairo, Egypt, in hopes of learning what happened to them. But there are many surprises awaiting her, including a mysterious new guardian--an archaeologist--she's never met, his Egyptian brother-in-law, and a strange gold ring she's inherited from her father. Inez is as creative as she is hopeful, and in the end, the story will sweep readers away with its cinematic details, its touches of magic, and a dash of romance. Ibañez's descriptions of the cities that Inez visits--especially Buenos Aires, with its magical elements--are so charming that the cities become characters themselves. Romance, adventure, and lessons of hope are the heart of this duology opener from an author unafraid to immerse the reader into different worlds.
